Conservation’s Latest Problem? Not Enough Hunters

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Hunters are among the biggest funders of conservation in the United States. But as hunting numbers decline, who will be left to foot the bill?

Little known to many conservation-minded hikers, bikers, and campers, many places they love are funded by hunters. Multiple sources, such as license fees and taxes collected on firearms and ammunition sales, pay for wildlife refuges, conservation wardens, and more.

But the number of hunters afield has steadily declined for decades. As these numbers plummet, so do the tax dollars tied to licenses and hunting equipment sales.